AI in Marketing

In this episode, we delve into a range of groundbreaking stories from Silicon Valley to skincare trends, starting with Soham Parekh's serial moonlighting across multiple startups, a revelation that stirred the tech community. We then explore an unusual legal move where US Attorney General Pam Bondi assures tech giants immunity against liabilities for supporting TikTok amidst a federal ban, challenging Congressional law. In the realm of cybersecurity, the OWASP's analysis unveils the top threats to Large Language Models and Generative AI systems by 2025, highlighting the importance of robust security measures. Switching gears to education, a study from M.I.T reveals the impact of AI on learning and memory, indicating a superficial grasp of content when AI is used. In a lighter vein, Aquaphor emerges as a Gen Z skincare sensation on TikTok, illustrating the power of social media in revitalizing brands. Lastly, we cover how Fourth of July celebrations are getting a high-tech makeover with AI-powered drones and augmented reality apps, About: Stan Berteloot is a French journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Sources: * https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/03/who-is-soham-parekh-the-serial-moonlighter-silicon-valley-startups-cant-stop-hiring/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/03/who-is-soham-parekh-the-serial-moonlighter-silicon-valley-startups-cant-stop-hiring/] * https://www.wired.com/story/pam-bondi-trump-tiktok-letters-google-apple-microsoft/ [https://www.wired.com/story/pam-bondi-trump-tiktok-letters-google-apple-microsoft/] * https://dzone.com/articles/owasp-top-10-llm-security-risks [https://dzone.com/articles/owasp-top-10-llm-security-risks] * https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/opinion/aritificial-intelligence-education.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/opinion/aritificial-intelligence-education.html] * https://www.fastcompany.com/91363370/the-internet-is-in-love-with-aquaphor [https://www.fastcompany.com/91363370/the-internet-is-in-love-with-aquaphor] * https://qz.com/july-fourth-fireworks-shows-ai-drones-ar-tech [https://qz.com/july-fourth-fireworks-shows-ai-drones-ar-tech]

This week on the podcast, we dive into a series of impactful stories reshaping the tech and marketing landscapes. First, we discuss Microsoft's announcement of cutting about 4 percent of its workforce, approximately 9,000 jobs, amidst economic uncertainties, despite the company's continued profitability and a market valuation nearing $3.7 trillion. This move highlights the evolving job market in the tech sector and Microsoft's significant investments in artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Next, we turn our attention to Lovable, a Swedish AI startup on the brink of securing over $150 million in funding, pushing its valuation close to $2 billion. This investment underscores the rapid growth and potential of AI technologies, as Lovable advances from early seed funding to substantial growth financing, with its web app-building product and a new beta AI agent. Shifting gears, we explore the global AI competition, focusing on DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company. Despite initial controversies and national security concerns, DeepSeek's technologies have gained remarkable adoption About: Stan Berteloot is a French journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Sources: * https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/technology/microsoft-layoffs-ai.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/technology/microsoft-layoffs-ai.html] * https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/02/lovable-on-track-to-raise-150m-at-2b-valuation/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/02/lovable-on-track-to-raise-150m-at-2b-valuation/] * https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/remember-deepseek-many-adopt-its-ai-models-despite-security-concerns/ [https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/remember-deepseek-many-adopt-its-ai-models-despite-security-concerns/] * https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/02/substack-brings-new-updates-to-livestreaming-as-it-increases-video-push/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/02/substack-brings-new-updates-to-livestreaming-as-it-increases-video-push/] * https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2025/06/25/how-carvel-created-the-first-ice-cream-dispensing-billboard [https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2025/06/25/how-carvel-created-the-first-ice-cream-dispensing-billboard]

This week on our podcast, we dive into a series of pivotal developments shaping the technology landscape: - The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly rejects a proposed ten-year moratorium on state AI regulations, preserving state autonomy over the burgeoning field amidst concerns for consumer privacy and the misuse of AI technologies. - Operation Overload, a pro-Russia disinformation campaign, exploits consumer-grade AI tools to spread false narratives globally, demonstrating a significant shift toward more scalable and sophisticated propaganda tactics. - Google's data center electricity consumption soars, more than doubling in four years, spotlighting the tech giant's challenge in meeting its carbon-free energy commitments amidst escalating power demands. - Grammarly announces its acquisition of the email app Superhuman, marking a significant stride towards becoming an AI-powered productivity platform and signaling its ambition to facilitate seamless collaboration with AI agents across various professional tasks. - Surge AI, a data labeling company, is reportedly aiming to secure $1 billion in its inaugural funding round, targeting a valuation of over $15 billion About: Stan Berteloot is a French journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Sources: * https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/politics/state-ai-laws.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/politics/state-ai-laws.html] * https://www.wired.com/story/pro-russia-disinformation-campaign-free-ai-tools/ [https://www.wired.com/story/pro-russia-disinformation-campaign-free-ai-tools/] * https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/01/googles-data-center-energy-use-doubled-in-four-years/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/01/googles-data-center-energy-use-doubled-in-four-years/] * https://www.theverge.com/news/696056/grammarly-acquires-superhuman-email-app-ai-platform [https://www.theverge.com/news/696056/grammarly-acquires-superhuman-email-app-ai-platform] * https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/surge-ai-reportedly-targeting-1-billion-in-first-ever-fundraise/ [https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2025/surge-ai-reportedly-targeting-1-billion-in-first-ever-fundraise/] * https://www.adweek.com/programmatic/agentic-ai-model-context-protocol-get-it-right/ [https://www.adweek.com/programmatic/agentic-ai-model-context-protocol-get-it-right/]

Microsoft has developed an AI system that outperforms human doctors in diagnosing health conditions with over 80% accuracy, led by Mustafa Suleyman. This system, powered by OpenAI's o3 model, aims to complement rather than replace doctors, focusing on cost-effectiveness and efficiency while still valuing human elements in medical practice. Microsoft envisions nearly error-free operations within 5-10 years, potentially revolutionizing global health systems. Universities are reevaluating computer science curriculums due to rapid advancements in generative AI, with prestigious institutions like Carnegie Mellon University considering significant updates. The focus is shifting from traditional coding skills to computational thinking and AI literacy, reflecting changes in the job market where demand for a blend of technical and critical thinking skills is increasing. Anysphere has launched a new web app for its AI coding editor Cursor, allowing users to manage coding agents from their browsers. This development aims to extend Cursor's capabilities, following its growth to over $500 About: Stan Berteloot is a French journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Sources: * https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/30/microsoft-ai-system-better-doctors-diagnosing-health-conditions-research [https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/30/microsoft-ai-system-better-doctors-diagnosing-health-conditions-research] * https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/technology/computer-science-education-ai.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/technology/computer-science-education-ai.html] * https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/30/cursor-launches-a-web-app-to-manage-ai-coding-agents/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/30/cursor-launches-a-web-app-to-manage-ai-coding-agents/] * https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/30/google-launches-calendar-app-for-apple-watch/ [https://www.macrumors.com/2025/06/30/google-launches-calendar-app-for-apple-watch/] * https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2025/06/23/summer-box-office-projections-movie-marketing [https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2025/06/23/summer-box-office-projections-movie-marketing]

Identity theft reports have surpassed 1.1 million, highlighting the challenge of balancing security with user convenience amid rising AI-fueled fraudulent activities. The FIDO Alliance reports a 53% increase in customers noticing suspicious online activities, emphasizing the need for secure, user-friendly authentication solutions. Machine translation has advanced significantly, utilizing large language models and neural networks for nuanced, context-aware translations. Despite progress, these tools struggle with deep cultural understanding and high-stakes communications, underscoring the limitations of AI in language localization. In travel planning, AI tools like OpenAI's Operator demonstrated potential by organizing a last-minute trip, suggesting destinations and navigating train schedules. However, limitations were evident with session timeouts and the need for human intervention, hinting at AI's future role in easing travel planning burdens. OpenAI is adjusting compensation strategies to retain top talent following high-profile departures to Meta. This includes intensified discussions with employees and creative reward approaches, amid reports of Meta offering significant signing bonuses to attract OpenAI About: Stan Berteloot is a French journalist, marketing strategist, and AI expert based in Princeton, New Jersey. A University of Maryland journalism graduate, he navigates the intersection of storytelling, technology, and culture. As Head of Strategy and CTO at Nytro Marketing, he pioneered AI-driven content creation, launching the AI in Marketing podcast. He also hosts Back in America, a podcast exploring American identity through in-depth conversations on race, misinformation, and AI ethics. Sources: * https://venturebeat.com/security/identity-theft-hits-1-1m-reports-and-authentication-fatigue-is-only-getting-worse/ [https://venturebeat.com/security/identity-theft-hits-1-1m-reports-and-authentication-fatigue-is-only-getting-worse/] * https://martech.zone/human-versus-machine-translation [https://martech.zone/human-versus-machine-translation] * https://www.wired.com/story/i-let-ai-agents-plan-my-vacation-and-it-wasnt-terrible/ [https://www.wired.com/story/i-let-ai-agents-plan-my-vacation-and-it-wasnt-terrible/] * https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/29/openai-reportedly-recalibrating-compensation-in-response-to-meta-hires/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/29/openai-reportedly-recalibrating-compensation-in-response-to-meta-hires/] * https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/29/trump-says-hes-found-a-buyer-for-tiktok/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/29/trump-says-hes-found-a-buyer-for-tiktok/]